TLDR:
- Japanese pharma company Astellas Venture Management invests in Israeli startup Somite AI, expanding pre-seed round with over $10 million in fundraising for innovative stem cell treatments using AI.
- Somite AI aims to develop AI foundation models in the field of stem cell biology, targeting a market of $250 billion, and has so far raised over $10 million.
Japanese pharma company Astellas Venture Management has invested in Israeli startup Somite AI, expanding its pre-seed round with over $10 million in fundraising for innovative stem cell treatments using artificial intelligence. Somite AI, founded in October 2023, uses AI to develop treatments for diseases such as diabetes, obesity, and muscular dystrophy through regenerative medicine.
The additional $4.8 million funding round includes participation from Astellas Venture Management and Montage Ventures, with representatives from both companies joining Somite AI’s board of directors as observers. The initial recruitment round was led by Israeli venture capital fund TechAviv, joined by other venture capital companies.
Somite AI’s platform, AlphaStem, enables the discovery and optimization of new therapies by generating new data on a massive scale. The additional funding will accelerate the data creation process and training on the company’s AI platform, as well as advancing the company’s flagship program to the clinical trials stage. The funding will also support the start of a second clinical program to treat metabolic diseases like diabetes.
Dr. Micha Braxton, founder and CEO of Somite AI, expressed excitement about the partnership with Astellas Venture Management and Montage Ventures, stating that the additional capital will help expand the pre-seed round. Dr. Nagisa Sakurai from Astellas Venture Management highlighted the potential for synergy between the two companies in the field of stem cell therapies developed by AI.
Somite AI, with a team of experienced founders, aims to be the OpenAI of cellular biology, targeting a market worth $250 billion. The company’s focus on innovative stem cell treatments powered by AI has attracted investors and industry experts alike, positioning it as a leader in the field of regenerative medicine.
